The Rake and The Rose (A Rake's Mistake)
Page 23
"So?" Anne grinned at her.
"So, what?" Charlotte asked softly.
"You sent an urgent letter. What is your news?"
Charlotte looked around and leaned forward "Come with me." Anne followed her to a private room where they knew no one could hear them, and then - just in case- whispered her the good news.
"Good God! No, you jest!" Anne squealed happily and clapped a hand over her mouth, as the servants gave her strange looks when they walked by “Oh heaven…sorry!” she giggled.
"Shh!" Charlotte laughed and Anne composed herself.
"When?" Anne's face split into a goofy grin.
“Around two months?"
"Oh dear heaven, does-"
"No he doesn't know yet! So please don't say anything!" Charlotte smiled and Anne acted as if she were locking her mouth.
"Oh my, the news is exciting! Do you know what you want?"
"Does she know what she wants for what?" Alexander had walked out smiling and bent to kiss Charlotte's cheek. Both women had a look of utter mischief and Anne simply looked about to burst, but she came to the rescue.
"I asked if she knew what she wanted to drink, since she was nearly finished with her tea. We just came in here as I have never had a proper tour." Anne was quite inventive Charlotte decided suddenly.
"I can get you some cordial if you want." Alexander whispered to her, but she denied it, it made her feel icky to drink anything too sweet.
"No, some tea will be perfectly fine." He looked confused but went about his business. He left to get her what she needed and Anne was looking at her.
"Well now, if only I had a gentleman at my beck and call!"
"He has been so sweet, but I have to admit I might get fat if I don't do things on my own!"
"Well…either way you'll grow." Anne winked. "When will you tell him?"
"I want to feel a baby kicking first. Because of what happened, if it doesn't Sophie has a way to..." Charlotte stopped, no she wouldn't say anything of that sort, look how happy Anne looks, I cannot crush that…"I am not sure, but I want to tell him in a special way." she smiled and her eyes twinkled.
"Oh that would be really sweet."
"Plus Sophie told me his birthday is in a couple weeks." Charlotte had prepared everything already. Doctor Lambert would be able to see her to "Check on her physical condition." She smiled when Doctor Lambert had to explain that Charlotte was great, better than great but that he wanted to be safe.
Alexander of course agreed that all steps should be taken to prevent her from being sick again. He was still trying to find out who had poisoned her. Giselle was in London, not being a nuisance to Charlotte, and she took the time to stretch and relax.
"I am so happy Anne." her eyes gleamed.
"I bet you are, I am so happy for you Charlotte!" Anne clasped her hands together with tears in her eyes.
"Charlotte?" Alexander handed her a small cup of tea after he walked in "I'm off for my business meeting."
He kissed her cheek and Francesca was there "Hello, Charlotte."
"Francesca! Please sit!" She motioned to another chair and the nanny happily sat down, her eyes brimming with emotion. The staff all knew and everyone sent secret smiles to her whenever she walked by, or took small pains to make sure she did not over-exert herself. Alexander simply explained it, as they were worried as well. He was so oblivious, that it made her smile.
Alexander left and Francesca waved her hands in excitement "I cannot wait to have another baby around here!"
"You'll be such a big help Francesca!" Anne laughed and Sophie and James were there suddenly.
"So do you feel kicking yet?" Sophie asked softly with a beaming look. James simply stood by quietly giving his calming presence she knew should she need anything he would be there.
"No not yet, Doctor Lambert said that happens around three months.
"Well Alexander's birthday is near!" Sophie exclaimed happily "So let's hope the little one get's excited in time." With that, she leaned in to Charlotte's still only softly bulging tummy and softly whispered "Little one? You hear me? You need to get all excited so your Papa gets excited too!"
Charlotte threw her head back laughing. It finally seemed that everything was turning out right.
Alexander meanwhile was listening to Kade tell of an interesting story of what he heard of in Caversham. But not before he had given him the entire report on Charlotte’s poisoning. He was having Giselle checked out, her contacts; everything about her was to be scrutinized under a microscope.
Which was fine with Kade, as he wanted something to do. Alexander had left no stone unturned. He had only James, Sophie and Francesca deal with Charlotte’s own food, which was prepared separately. She was not to eat anything that was not made by Sophie or Francesca, or something that Alexander brought. She was not to take any gifts delivered by anyone else.
But, that did not take away from his surprise over Kade’s news.
“Well come now, tell me what it is you found.” Alexander tapped the desk in impatience. Kade held his hands up.
“Cool down now, I went to Caversham, and apparently there had been a rash of burglaries, but nothing had been stolen…”
“When?”
“Around the time you found Charlotte.”
“Do you think she was injured during a robbery?” Alexander was skeptical.
“No, now calm down I need to finish!”
“Sorry.”
“Aye well, the final one actually ended in a small fire!” Kade had not been able to find out who was in it, as apparently the woman was very well looked after, hardly came out of the home because of the fear of people her parents had put upon her. Apparently, it was Lord Devisher's family home, that he had gotten after he closed the estate when their daughter died. So who was the young woman? Alexander thought.
Kade exhaled when Alexander pondered this aloud "What in God's name was Devisher doing in Caversham?"
"Dinnae." Kade's lilt came forth in a fit of agitation. "No one has ever heard of a ‘Charlotte’, but they do know a young woman lived in the home, and lived with Devisher and his wife.”
"Do you think they had another child?" Alexander questioned with his head tilted slightly.
"I am unsure." Kade wouldn’t pull his leg, and his friend sighed.
"They might have kept her secret for fear of her getting sick." Alex said softly.
"Apparently rumors were there were twins." Kade mentioned.
"Twins? But their daughter was blond."
“Non-Identical twins are normal, Alex,” his friend corrected.
Alexander had a shock of recognition. When he was a boy, their families had been close. But he had remembered one day seeing a flame haired child running through the woods, as he played with Sara. He had remembered playing with the red headed girl. Sara, Devisher's daughter, was a lovely bouncing blond who had adored everything dear to her. She had a rabbit with a red bow and a bell. . .but Lottie had the one with blue ribbon!
Much like the one Lottie had. . . .an idea struck him. "James?"
"Yes sir?"
"Bring me the rabbit."
James left and promptly brought it to him "Sir?"
"Kade, find out who made this. There must be a maker’s mark. Try London. Ask if there had been a sibling." He looked at the obvious careful craftsmanship.
"Do you think Charlotte is a surviving twin?"
"I don't think anything. But we'll find out. Doctor Lambert said under no circumstances should we say anything. Her mind is too fragile. The last thing we want is for her to wind up in Bedlam."
Kade nodded "Agreed!" He took the rabbit and fiddled with the blue ribbon. "Did you notice this?" He had turned the rabbit over and noticed a loose stitch. He also noticed that something glittered inside when the toy was tilted.
"What?" Alexander stood and looked over his desk.
Upon pulling the string a little pocket was revealed. "What the devil?" Alexander saw something shiny fall out.
"Same maker?" Kade gently turned the locket over and they laid them side-by- side. Both were beautifully carved. The latches were the same too. "Open it." Kade said softly.
"I don't know how."
Kade’s brow knit and he sat down, both lockets a puzzle piece that no one knew how to use. "Well we don't want to break it."
"No we don't. But it looks like it was a child's locket, matching. So, twins. See the engravings on the back?" They were rather large, perhaps a bit bigger than a normal pocket watch.
To Charlotte, love Mama. And the other, To Sara, love Mama.
"Similar engraving, I don’t see a maker’s mark... It is Charlotte's name and she had the locket. But why doesn’t anyone know of her?"
Alexander was perplexed like Kade, who simply looked at him confused as well. He had seen Charlotte open the locket once, but only once. And sure enough he had seen a red haired girl on the inside as he had passed by. But he wondered if the woman on the other side would be the same.
"Wait!" Kade pointed to the latch as he picked one up "It's no latch, look it twists. Try the other." Alexander took Charlotte's and sure enough both lockets popped open. The one that was in Kade's hand had a soft curl of blond hair fall onto the desk. It was the color of cool wheat in the moonlight. Alexander sat down abruptly and sighed. Kade held the lock of hair perplexed with it's color, not quite honey and not quite blond.
"Well, we got them open." He saw the red haired young woman in the portrait full on and along side an auburn haired woman with blue eyes. He remembered her as Lady Devisher; her husband had been a dark eyed and blond haired, and very kind. The opposite girl had the same features, blond hair and beautiful blue eyes, perhaps even more beautiful than her mother’s.
“Alexander look the little miniature pulls back on Charlotte’s...” he glanced down at the locket, and realized that it did, to reveal a much younger looking version of the young woman with the dark eyes. It was Charlotte all right. And she looked just like the blond in the lockets twin portrait.
But no one had ever seen Charlotte outside ever. Society never knew of her. "But why? He realized he had not even stated what he was questioning. But Kade was one step ahead.
"Maybe she was younger?"
"Younger? They’re twins."
"But they’re born at different times, Alexander,” Kade explained. He, too, was a twin.
Alex remembered. "You were older than Becky."
"Yes." Kade's face withdrew in distaste. Alexander well knew his story and kept quiet. "Did Leroy find anything?"
"So far no, nothing." Kade sighed, "Leroy only found out what we did. But he is asking the hospital staff, where he worked prior to Military."
Alexander remembered that Leroy had a very extensive background in medical procedure, but he was also very skilled in combat, his family said it would be noble to join the war- so he left his medical kit for a gun. Alexander had never gone to India or the military, but Kade and Leroy had things to prove. They both were ready to go off and get their limbs hacked off if need be...He found it ghastly. If he didn't have Charlotte he might have done the same though.
“Well, tell me if Leroy finds anything out."
"You know I will Alexander," Kade grinned his usual smirk and exhaled to continue, "Well the little Countess did not serve to be very…entertaining. Rather a bother if anything."
"Well despite the Ladies, how does hunting go?" this was an entirely different subject.
"Very well." Kade’s teeth gleamed white as he flashed a deadly smile "Very well indeed."
Alexander shook his head and ran a hand through his hair. His close friends were all he had ever known. And they would soon be going to war in India. Alexander coughed "So does Leroy still think 'Manners are the way'?"
Kade barked a laugh "Yes, and quite frankly I have mind to throw him in another boxing match just to see him lose his cool."
They both got up grinning after Kade took and closed both lockets putting the lock of hair back. He noticed it was very smooth, and felt his heart break at the fate of the child it belonged to.
"When did Sara die?" Kade glanced and Alexander seemed to be on the same line of thought.
"Everyone says the girl must have been six."
"From what?" Alex grimaced, he hated hearing about children dying.
"Typhus." Kade grimaced. "Nasty thing."
They were silent and walked out of the room and turned to head down the stairs. "James, please let Charlotte know I'm heading to London I will be back tonight."
James nodded affirmation and smiled.
"Why the deuce is everyone over chipper in your home?" Kade asked, "Something's going on." he mused to Alex.
"No, they’re just happy Charlotte is alright," he corrected. They got to the bottom of the steps and left.
Charlotte gasped happily and hopped about when James's eyes were twinkling. "He's gone!" And with that said, everyone burst into motion.
"We have everything." Francesca said.
"It's just getting put together in the servants’ rooms." Charlotte stretched and followed at a leisurely pace to the second floor. They had chosen a room that was one down from Alexander's with an adjoining door to it. It had originally been his nursery, Francesca was crooning over the fact that again there would be a baby’s laughter there.
"Time to get this old room spick and span!" Francesca exclaimed clapping her hands. James had brought a painter earlier that day and had spent all afternoon keeping him occupied and telling Alexander that it was just for the touching up of the Estate. The elaborate artist showed Charlotte different colors, and she scrunched her nose.
"We don't know if it will be a boy or girl…" all the colors were either a sky blue or a dulcet pink, or some shade between- she hadn’t even known that was possible!
The painter sighed but his hands flew in an array of French to Francesca who raised a brow and responded back pointing at Charlotte's still flat middle and then as if to make a point buttoned her lip and nodded.
"What?" she asked confused.
"I told him it was for the Lord Cromwell to announce his unborn child and to keep his mouth shut."
"Oh! “Charlotte clapped a hand over her lips and laughed, "My, Francesca, be a bit kinder."
The man obviously spoke English and sighed languorously "Yes, Mademoiselle is so kind to me! After I have been a waste!" he was so dramatic!
Charlotte giggled "Perhaps, kind sir. Do you happen to have any creams, or beige? Something neutral?"
“We can do Creams with whites and lace! That suits any baby!" but he pronounced baby "Bay-beh" it made her grin.
She nodded enthusiastically "Yes! Oh perfect!"
"I don't know what to do for furniture," Francesca sighed. But Charlotte waved her hand.
"No, I want Alex to help with that!" she smiled and rubbed her belly. "I am so happy Alexander's birthday is coming up. How old will he be?"
"Well dear he was born in he was born in 1792. He'll be twenty-two years old. He is around four months younger than Kade." Charlotte nodded. If she was eighteen he was four years older than she.
"I hope he likes his present..." she whispered.
"Dear, I don't know what man would not love hearing he's having a baby," Francesca beamed and the Painter seemed to want to put in a side note.
"This is true Mademoiselle! When my little wife said she was with child I flew to the moon!" He waved his hands dramatically, which threw Charlotte into a fit of laughter.
"Well let us hope you stays on earth as I will be needing you still." Her wry grin made the painter sniff.
"Indeed, one must not leave their little wife all alone!" Charlotte sat down and exhaled softly, her hair gently swaying in the open window breeze. She was content and happy, and decided to go see who Sophie was in the kitchens as usual whe
n she walked in.
“Sophie!" she squealed with glee. "You should see the baby's room it's just lovely, absolutely lovely!"
"I’m so glad you’re enjoying it sweetheart." Sophie’s eyes brimmed with happiness and she bade Charlotte to sit down with a pat on a stool near a small table. "Time to have a snack."
"I am hardly hungry Sophie,” she protested but Sophie raised a hand.
"No-no protesting. You're eating for two now so plenty of nourishment for you!" Charlotte sighed and sat down and ate what she was given. A hearty meal of eggs, toast and jam and butter, with some lovely bacon. She didn't realize how hungry she was and she shoveled it all down